Our Approach
Caritas Somalia places people and communities at the center of all its interventions, promoting inclusive, sustainable, and integral human development. Our work follows a community-based and people-centered approach, grounded in active participation and continuous adaptation to the local context.
Our action is inspired by the United Nations vision of sustainable development, structured around the “Five P’s”: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships, integrating humanitarian response, development, and peacebuilding.
We apply the People-Centered Approach (PCA), which recognizes communities as key actors in identifying priorities and shaping solutions. This strengthens the centrality of protection, accountability to affected populations, and the overall effectiveness of our programmes.
For Caritas Somalia, cooperation means working with people, supporting them on a path toward resilience, self-reliance, and dignity.
Areas of Intervention
Human Mobility, Protection and Social Inclusion
Caritas Somalia accompanies refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), promoting human rights, preventing human trafficking, and fostering social inclusion.
Our evidence-based interventions support empowerment pathways for urban refugees and displaced communities. We carry out ongoing activities in IDP camps, including the distribution of hygiene materials during the COVID-19 period. As Caritas, we also actively participate in working groups focused on human mobility.
Livelihoods, Agriculture and Sustainable Development
We strengthen community resilience through sustainable livelihoods and agricultural programmes.
Our interventions include tree planting and environmental restoration activities, as well as the distribution of non-food items (NFI) during floods, such as mattresses, mosquito nets, and other essential household items, to support affected families.
By integrating permaculture, environmental protection, and responsible natural resource management, we aim to identify and promote long-term, sustainable solutions that enhance food security, resilience, and ecosystem preservation.
Nutrition, Health and WASH
Caritas Somalia improves access to adequate nutrition, essential health services, and safe water, with a strong focus on children, women, and vulnerable groups.
Our interventions often include the construction of temporary sanitation facilities, emergency water distribution, and the provision of dignity kits, ensuring safety, hygiene, and dignity in crisis-affected settings.
In our nutrition programmes, we also deliver community-based training on malnutrition prevention and the preparation of nutritious food, alongside hygiene education activities aimed at reducing the spread of preventable diseases and improving overall community well-being.
Education and Empowerment of Women and Youth
Education is a cornerstone of human development. We promote inclusive and equitable education while strengthening the social and economic empowerment of women and youth through skills development and leadership support, and we firmly work to prevent and combat gender-based violence by promoting rights, dignity, and safe learning and community environment
Emergency Response
Caritas Somalia responds to emergencies resulting from climate-related shocks and other humanitarian crises, such as floods, droughts, and forced displacement, by providing essential humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
Interventions are targeted and context-specific, implemented in partnership with local actors, with particular attention to protection and human dignity.
Advocacy and Peacebuilding
We promote community-rooted advocacy and support peacebuilding and reconciliation processes, contributing to respect for human rights and social cohesion.
Our advocacy work also includes promoting access to safe, accurate, and responsible information, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we supported awareness-raising and information initiatives to counter misinformation and strengthen trust within communities.